Who is Khaby Lame and why the world's most popular TikTok star left the US?
Khaby Lame
, the world's most-followed
TikTok
creator, has left the
United States
after being detained by immigration authorities for allegedly overstaying his visa. The 25-year-old Senegalese-born Italian influencer, whose real name is Seringe Khabane Lame, was stopped by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Friday.
According to an ICE spokesperson, Lame entered the US on April 30 and remained beyond the terms of his temporary visa. He was not issued a deportation order but was allowed to leave the country voluntarily — a move that spares him from a formal removal on his record and avoids a re-entry ban of up to 10 years.
The incident occurs amid President Donald Trump's intensifying immigration crackdown, with high-profile ICE raids and rising public protests in major cities like Los Angeles.
Lame has not commented publicly on the detainment. A request for comment sent to his listed Instagram email by the Associated Press went unanswered.
Lame rose to global fame during the COVID-19 pandemic through silent, comedic reaction videos mocking overly complex 'life hacks.' His content — centered on simplicity and physical comedy — resonated with a massive global audience. He now has more than 162 million followers on TikTok and over 80 million on Instagram.
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Born in Senegal, Lame moved to Italy as an infant with his working-class parents and holds Italian citizenship. He first began creating content in 2020 after being laid off from his job as a factory worker in Chivasso, near Turin.
Since then, Lame's rise has been meteoric. He became TikTok's most-followed creator in 2022, surpassing American influencer Charli D'Amelio. That same year, he signed a multi-year deal with fashion label Hugo Boss. He was also listed in
Forbes
' 30 Under 30 and
Fortune
's 40 Under 40, earning an estimated $16.5 million from sponsorships and brand deals between June 2022 and September 2023.
His influence has extended beyond social media. In 2023, he joined the judges' panel on
Italia's Got Talent
. He was also a juror for TikTok Shorts at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022 and made a cameo in
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
in 2024. Earlier this year, he was appointed a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, focusing on the rights of children and youth in Africa.
Lame had arrived in the US just weeks ago, even making an appearance at the Met Gala in May, wearing a striking grey suit adorned with pocket watches. His abrupt departure has surprised fans and triggered broader conversations around immigration enforcement and celebrity travel in the US.
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